Freetown Veterans' Agent helps townspeople in need

FREETOWN — Technically, Donat "Dan" LeBlanc's position as the town's veterans agent is a 20-hour-a-week job.

DEREK VITAL

FREETOWN — Technically, Donat "Dan" LeBlanc's position as the town's veterans agent is a 20-hour-a-week job.

After attending Council on Aging meetings, speaking with potential clients in person and diligently filling out all the required paperwork, LeBlanc far exceeds that figure.

"I get calls late at night, on the weekends," said LeBlanc. "It's a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week job."

Since taking over as Freetown's veterans agent last November, LeBlanc has nearly tripled the number of families receiving state veterans benefits from six to 17.

The Freetown resident served with the Marine Corps in the 1960s, losing an arm during active duty in Vietnam. LeBlanc was the New England regional manager for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs until his retirement in 2002. He is also the former veterans agent in New Bedford and has spent more than four decades advocating for military personnel and their families.

In 1999, he was named the Southeastern Massachusetts Veteran of the Year.

In his role as Freetown's veterans agent, LeBlanc said he seeks out families who are in need of assistance. As part of the Veterans' Bill of Rights, anyone who has spent 90 days of active duty for a branch of the military is eligible for the state-funded health benefits. Spouses are also eligible. Towns are required to pay for the benefits and they receive a 75 percent reimbursement from the state.

Town officials said LeBlanc has done such an outstanding job of spreading the word about veterans' benefits that selectmen recently approved an increase in his budget. He was requesting $43,000 for his office and they are recommending Town Meeting award him $50,000.

"He makes sure these veterans get what they deserve," selectmen Chairman Jean Fox said at a meeting last week. "That speaks volumes about his work ethic."

LeBlanc said by working with organizations such as the Council on Aging, he gets to know people in the community, what their needs are and how he can help out.

"You have to be proactive," said LeBlanc. "If you make them come to you, it becomes more difficult."

LeBlanc said a majority of the people he works with are senior citizens, many of whom are in desperate need of the assistance.

"They are widows, people living under the poverty level," said LeBlanc. "They don't ask for help. They feel like others need it more."

The reward for LeBlanc comes when he sits down with widows struggling to make ends meet and confirms they are eligible for veterans benefits.

"I usually ask them if they have a family member that can join them when I explain the process," said LeBlanc. "I want to assure them this is not a scam. When it's all said and done, I end up getting hugs and kisses from them."

Anyone interested in inquiring about veterans' benefits can contact LeBlanc at 774-930-4392.